Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in New York closes abruptly

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, a small venue in New York, has abruptly shut its doors to the public.

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, a small venue in New York, has abruptly shut its doors to the public. (MoCCA)

David Ng

Maybe they just decided to go to Comic-Con.

After 11 years, the leaders of New York's Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art have shuttered their venue. The abrupt closure came Monday, with museum officials saying they will move out of the current space by the end of July, according to reports.

Admittedly, the museum is a small one, occupying the fourth floor of a building in the SoHo neighborhood of New York. The organization, known somewhat humorously as MoCCA, devoted itself to exhibitions on the world of comics. Past shows spotlighted Stan Lee, "Batman," "Archie" comics, Will Eisner and more.

The museum opened in 2011. It remains unclear why officials decided to close the doors to the public. The museum's chairman and president, Ellen S. Abramowitz, told the Wall Street Journal that the organization will continue to exist but did not elaborate on what form it will take.

With the explosion of superhero-influenced movies, such as the latest"Spider-Man" film that recently opened, comics would seem to be a solid business, even for a museum. But Abramowitz told the Journal that the museum has had difficulty finding individual donors.

In April the museum held its annual MoCCA Fest, which serves as a fundraiser and a convention of sorts for comic fans.

The museum has posted the following statement on its official website: "While the physical space is closing, plans are afoot to continue MoCCA in a new and exciting incarnation. An announcement of MoCCA’s future arrangements will be forthcoming by the end of July."

To paraphrase Comic Book Guy from "The Simpsons": most ambiguous explanation ever?